Chapter 9 — The Wolf
Indianna hadn't seen her mother for the whole evening. She had gone straight to her room and collapsed on the bed, stressing about the evening she had to spend with Greyson. She was sweating, and she didn't know if it was because she was ill or because she was nervous.
7 p.m. rolled around very quickly, and Indianna felt sick as she walked downstairs, dressed modestly in blue jeans and a white top that sat off her shoulders. Her beige coat was draped over her arm.
Nothing fancy, especially since the last thing she wanted was to spend the evening with Greyson.
She was surprised to see her mother walk out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and with a tea towel in her hand.
"Indie, there you are!" Iris called. "I was just making—"
Iris looked at her daughter's outfit and frowned.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes," Indianna said.
"Where?" Iris asked.
"I don't know," Indianna said honestly, and she checked the time on her phone. It was exactly 7 p.m.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're making friends," Iris said. "I know that you... struggle."
Indianna pointed awkwardly to the door, wishing that this stage of Iris showing interest would pass. It was easier when her mother didn't care about her.
Indianna had forgotten how to talk to her mother. It always felt so forced and unnatural.
"I have to go. Grey—"
Indianna stopped short, her eyes widening, and cursed under her breath when Iris's eyebrows raised.
"Greyson?" Iris said. "You're going out with Greyson Evans?"
"N-no! I'm not going out with him. We're just... It's just this once."
"You need to stay away from that boy!" Iris scolded. "He's bad news. He's trouble! You should stay in tonight. You're not seeing him."
For once, Indianna wanted to listen to her mother, but she knew she couldn't.
"If I don't leave this house in the next minute, we both know he will knock on the front door," Indianna said with a sigh. "It's a one-time thing. He has something I want."
"What could you possibly want from him, Indie? He's dangerous!"
"Answers," Indianna said shortly. "Unless you want to tell me about what you and he discussed the other day, then I'm leaving."
Iris paled. "I d-don't know what you mean! You can't go with him, Indie. He's going to take you away from me!"
"You lost me yourself, Mother," Indianna sighed and continued to the door.
Greyson was waiting in the car, the engine running. He checked his watch as Indianna approached the car, tutting.
"7:03 p.m.," he called.
"Consider yourself lucky I'm even here," Indianna grumbled and got into the car, turning to look at Greyson.
He pushed the sleeves of his black top up and reached forward, brushing a piece of Indianna's hair behind her ear.
She froze at the contact, feeling the familiar sensation of tingles that were becoming more present whenever Greyson touched her. She sucked in a breath, unable to place the feelings caused by the sparks. She had felt nothing like them before.
"You're not wearing your glasses, sugar."
"I only wear them at school," she told him, avoiding eye contact.
"Well, I'll be making sure to see you outside of school if it means I can spend longer staring into your eyes," he said and smirked when Indianna shifted uncomfortably.
He pulled his arm back and focused his attention on the road.
"We should get going."
"Where are we going?"
"You wouldn't know," Greyson said dismissively.
"My mother told me to stay away from you," Indianna said once they were driving.
Greyson's lips twitched, and he let out a short chuckle.
"I'm sure she did. I'm glad to see that it's not just me you don't listen to."
"How do you know her?" Indianna asked, ignoring Greyson's comment.
"Later," Greyson said simply.
"Now. You said you'd give me answers, Greyson."
"And I will, later. You will have answers by the end of the night."
Indianna sighed and shook her head. She shouldn't have expected anything different from Greyson.
The two of them settled into a comfortable silence as they drove to the unknown location. Indianna wished that it was uncomfortable. She wished she felt awkward sitting in such close proximity to Greyson, with no words being shared, but she didn't.
It felt rather peaceful, and she hated it. She didn't want to feel comfortable around Greyson, not when he infuriated her and made her feel anger like never before.
Indianna reached forward, touching the dial that turned up the volume on the radio just as Greyson pressed the button to change the station.
Their hands met, and Indianna hurriedly yanked her hand back, not wanting to feel the sparks from his touch, but it was too late. Tingles danced down her fingertips, spreading across her palm and into her wrist.
She wanted to reach out and grab onto Greyson and never let go if it meant she could feel the sparks again.
She glared at her hand and clenched her fingers into a fist.
"There's no point in trying to hide it, sugar," Greyson said.
He slowly trailed his fingers down her arm, smirking when her body reacted to the sparks.
"I know you feel it."
"Stop."
Indianna attempted to slap Greyson's hand away, but he easily caught her wrist.
"It feels nice, doesn't it? You like my touch. The feeling of my skin against yours... You've never felt this before, have you?"
Indianna shook her head vehemently.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Don't lie, he said and smiled. "I'm in your head, remember?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do I feel them?" Indianna asked.
"We're connected in a way that you couldn't possibly understand yet," Greyson said simply, almost dismissively.
Indianna gave him a look. "Is that seriously all you're going to tell me?"
"Yes, especially when you have that attitude, sugar."
Greyson smirked when Indianna pulled her wrist from his grasp and hit his shoulder.
"You're so infuriating!"
"And I'm also currently driving. I would suggest that you don't hit me unless you want to crash headfirst into a tree."
"Is this... connection, is that how we can talk in our minds?" Indianna asked, eager for answers.
"That is part of it," Greyson said with a nod.
"What is it?"
"I'm not telling you yet."
"Greyson—"
"Sugar, there is no point asking me questions that you know I'm not going to answer," Greyson cut Indianna off, his voice stern. "You'll find out the answers when the time is right."
"When is that?"
"When I say so."
Greyson suddenly pulled the car to a halt, and Indianna looked out of the window to see that they were parked outside a small Italian restaurant.
It had fairy lights hanging from the guttering, and flower pots lined the walkway to the front door. The car park was busy, considering the size of the restaurant, and Indianna was too busy admiring the pretty location to notice Greyson opening her door.
"I'm surprised you're not dragging me inside, thinking that the sooner you get this over with, the sooner you'll get answers," he said, raising his eyebrows as he looked down at her.
"That's a brilliant idea," Indianna said.
She stared at Greyson in disbelief when he held out his hand.
"Don't give me that look. I can be nice," he defended himself.
Indianna surprised herself by slipping her hand into Greyson's and letting him help her out of the car.
She couldn't help but look at his bare arms, which showed off his tattoos. She followed them up to his elbow, but the rest were hidden by his black shirt.
Everything about Greyson was dangerous. She couldn't help but think that the two of them truly were opposites.
Greyson was dark. He was clearly a rule-breaker, used to getting his own way and terrifying people into doing what he said. He didn't care that he was mean. He liked being in charge. He enjoyed the power.
Indianna was light. She was kind and gentle. She put others before herself and followed the rules. She didn't want to stand out. She liked blending into the background, living her life peacefully, free from drama and attention.
And yet, the two of them were having dinner with each other. Indianna didn't actually want to come, but Greyson, as always, got his way.
Growing up, Indianna always thought that opposites attracted each other, but now she was standing next to Greyson, full of questions and frustration, she couldn't imagine how she had once believed that.
Yet, when Greyson placed his hand on the small of her back, she found herself leaning into his touch and walking alongside him into the restaurant.
"Okay," Greyson said once they were eating their main courses in the restaurant.
He finished chewing a mouthful of pasta and pointed at Indianna.
"First question. Ask away."
Indianna's eyes grew wider, and she immediately wanted to ask a million questions, but she contained herself, placed her fork on the table and looked into Greyson's eyes.
"How do you know my mother, Greyson?"
"I don't. Not really," Greyson said. "I met her for the first time when I came by your house, but I have known of her for a long time."
Indianna frowned. "Why? Who is she?"
"You don't know who your own mother is?" Greyson wondered.
Indianna glared at Greyson. "Apparently not. Don't dodge the question, Greyson. She's hiding things from me as well. Why? What is she keeping a secret?"
Greyson smiled, his lips thin. He didn't say anything.
Indianna sighed and shook her head. "Of course. You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"Not yet. Next question, sugar."
Indianna looked down at her wrist, then back at Greyson. She wanted to ask the question, but she always struggled to talk about this subject.
"The..." She swallowed. "The a-attack."
She rubbed her scar, hiding it under the table.
"How do you know about it?"
Greyson sighed, debating his answer. He wasn't sure how much he would tell her.
"Your father was well respected, Indianna. He didn't deserve to die that way. I'm sorry. The story of what happened the day you were attacked is famous among certain people. Lots of people know about it."
"He shouldn't have died at all," Indianna said sharply. "You haven't told me how you know what happened."
"I know."
"You aren't going to tell me anything else? My father died, Greyson. Tell me how you know that!"
"I'm not going to."
"You can't keep something like that from me—"
"Your mother does. She knows the full story, but has she told you?"
Indianna faltered. "Full story... It was a wolf attack. That is the full story, isn't it?"
She shook her head.
"No. Greyson, don't tell me you know something else about what happened that day. It was just a horrific attack. There's nothing more to it... is there?"
"I think it's time for a different question." Greyson's tone was stern. "We'll come back to this another day."
"Greyson—"
"That's enough, sugar."
Indianna sat blinking, staring at Greyson in shock.
The day her father had died, the day she was attacked, there was more information about it that she didn't know. Greyson did.
She clenched her hands into fists, furious that he was keeping something as important as that from her.
"Don't get angry—"
"How can I not?" Indianna hissed.
"Ask a different question, or that's it for today," Greyson warned. "Do you want more answers or not?"
"Fine," Indianna said through gritted teeth. "How can you be in my head? You can read my thoughts, we can talk in our minds, I feel strange sensations when we touch... How is all of that possible? No one else can do that."
"Actually, certain people can," Greyson corrected.
"Certain people? What do you mean?"
"There are some of us in this world who are different, sugar. We are able to do things that others can't."
"So, you're saying we're not normal?"
Greyson quirked an eyebrow. "Define normal."
"What are we?" Indianna asked.
Greyson had an all-too-familiar look on his face, and Indianna knew that he wasn't going to explain further.
"What do you think?" he asked. "I'm curious."
"I have no idea! You haven't told me anything."
Indianna racked her brain, trying to make sense of this situation. She attempted to put the pieces together, but everything was a mess. She was so lost, and Greyson wasn't helping whatsoever.
"All I know is that you know something about the attack that killed my father, which makes no sense, seeing as it was wolves! They were wild animals. It was a freak of nature—"
"Oh my gosh, Indianna!"
A familiar voice stopped Indianna mid-rant, and she looked up to see Harry and Brooklyn.
Harry's arm was wrapped protectively around Brooklyn's waist, and they stopped next to Indianna and Greyson's table.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here, especially not with him!"
Greyson slowly turned his head, smiling.
"Thanks, Brooklyn."
"Are you..." Brooklyn looked between Indianna and Greyson. "Are you on a date?"
If Indianna had had any food in her mouth, she would have choked.
"No! Definitely not!"
"You break my heart, Indie," Greyson said sarcastically. "Harry, pull up a seat and join us."
"Oh, we don't want to interrupt!" Brooklyn said politely.
"It's fine. Indianna will still have the same questions tomorrow. They can wait."
Indianna met Greyson's eyes, wanting to object, but she didn't. The presence of other people made her shyness come forward, and she retreated back into herself, not feeling as comfortable.
"Maybe I should go?" she said quietly, forcing herself to speak up.
"Nonsense," Greyson said dismissively. "You've not finished your food. Besides, I'm not letting you leave alone. This town can be dangerous at night. You never know what could be lurking in the woods."
Indianna was suddenly reminded of the conversation she had overheard between Greyson and her mother.
Pack. Wolves travelled in packs, and Greyson seemed to know an awful lot about the night that had killed her father, the horrific event that involved wolves.
No.
Indianna told herself to stop being stupid. There was no way that there was any correlation between them. She was grasping at straws.
Woods, wolves, packs...
Greyson said this town was dangerous. Did he mean that there were wolves in the woods?
Is there? Indianna demanded.
Is there what, sugar?
Wolves. Are there wolves in the woods? Or is that information classified as well?
There was a bitter edge to Indianna's voice.
Would you be worried if I said there were?
Yes, Indianna said immediately.
She didn't have to think twice. The thought of the attack and wild wolves terrified her.
She swallowed nervously, and flashes from the attack ran through her mind. Sharp teeth digging into her flesh, ripping it apart so effortlessly. Her screams being drowned out by the growling and snarling of the vicious animals that were killing her father and torturing her.
The eyes that looked so human-like stared at her as the wild animal pinned her to the ground.
Greyson blinked, seeing everything that Indianna was remembering.
There are no wolves in the woods.
Indianna took a deep breath, the hairs on her body standing on end, and looked out of the window in the restaurant, seeing the darkness of the trees that were so close to them.
She looked back at Greyson and shook her head.
Liar.
Upon leaving the restaurant, Indianna couldn't stop staring at the tree line. The thought that the animals that had scarred her mentally and physically could be roaming around made her want to be sick.
She sighed and rubbed her eyes, overcome with exhaustion. She didn't know if it was due to Greyson or to still feeling unwell.
They reached Greyson's car, but instead of unlocking it, he turned around and leaned against the door, looking at Indianna with a smirk.
"What?" she asked cautiously, stopping in front of him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're so different when we're alone. You were fine until Harry and Brooklyn joined us, then you turned as quiet as a mouse."
"I'm not good with people," Indianna mumbled and shrugged. "Can you please take me home, Greyson?"
"You're not shy around me."
"Only because you never fail to infuriate me."
Greyson laughed and stepped forward, reaching Indianna in one stride.
"No. You are comfortable around me."
Indianna shook her head.
"You trust me."
"No. You hurt me and annoy the hell out of me. I don't trust you."
"You do," Greyson whispered.
His lips were so close to Indianna's. They were trapped in a tiny bubble; the whole world had stopped, and it was just the two of them.
Indianna was biting her lip, trying to distract herself from Greyson's close proximity, but she desperately wanted to reach out and touch him. She wanted to feel the sparks that were so unique yet so addictive.
"You're wrong."
"It's the connection between us, sugar. I know you trust me."
"This mysterious connection that you won't actually tell me about?" Indianna questioned, raising her eyebrow challengingly at Greyson. "How the hell can I trust you when all you do is keep things from me and order me about? It's fucking—"
Greyson placed his finger over Indianna's lips, tutting.
"Language, sugar."
Indianna went to step back, but Greyson slipped his arm around her back and spun her around, gently pushing her up against the car.
"G-Greyson, get off!"
The sparks were so distracting. They muddled her mind and made the frustration she felt towards Greyson fade.
"We both know you don't want me to," he said.
Indianna's eyes fluttered shut when he ran the pad of his thumb across her cheek, smirking when he saw how her body reacted to his touch.
"What do you want me to do?"
He leaned into her neck, murmuring against Indianna's skin.
She gasped softly, her back arching ever so slightly. The tingles were becoming more intense, and she suddenly felt very alert, no longer tired. All she could focus on was Greyson.
"No," she muttered, clenching her hands into fists defiantly. "I want you to take me home, Greyson."
Greyson chuckled, smiling knowingly against Indianna's skin.
"Now, who's the liar?"
"Greyson—"
Both Indianna and Greyson froze when there was a loud rustling from the woods.
They both turned, and a cry caught in Indianna's throat when she saw a shape emerge through the trees.
Instinctively, she reached for Greyson, gripping onto his arm in fright as she recognised the shape.
"G-Greyson," she stuttered, her lip quivering in fear.
"Get in the car, Indie," Greyson said gently, reaching around Indianna for the door handle.
"It's a wolf," she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from the animal as it slowly walked closer.
It growled suddenly, and Indianna yelped, looking up at Greyson with wide eyes. She expected him to look worried, or at least nervous, but he was calm.
He was staring directly at the wolf, which was snarling and barking, showing off its sharp teeth and watching them with bright yellow eyes.
"Car," Greyson said firmly and pulled the car door open. He sounded angry. "Now, sugar!"
Indianna couldn't move. She was frozen on the spot, gripping onto Greyson.
"Come on," Greyson said, pulling Indianna to the side and trying to get her into the car.
"Wait!"
Indianna narrowed her eyes, squinting at the wolf as it moved underneath a streetlight. Immediately, she was taken back to all those years ago when she had been attacked.
This wolf looked so familiar. She would never forget its face, no matter how hard she tried.
"Oh my God... It's the same wolf. Greyson, that's... It's—the same—oh my God."
Greyson had to hold onto Indianna, supporting her as all of her energy was sucked away while she stared at the wolf that had killed her father and nearly killed her.
She started to hyperventilate, and Greyson clicked into action as the wolf continued to edge nearer. He pushed Indianna into the car, yanking the seatbelt over her and securing it in place.
"Don't leave me!" Indianna panicked, reaching for Greyson as he went to shut the door. "Please—"
"I'm not going anywhere," he said calmly, hiding the anger in his voice. "I'll be back in the car in seconds. I promise. You're safe with me."
He gently closed the door and looked at the wolf, which had now stopped moving but was watching him.
"You have one chance to leave, Rogue," Greyson said slowly, his voice so low he was almost growling. "Or I will hunt you down and kill you. My pack isn't forgiving."
The wolf snarled, snapping its teeth.
"You don't scare me," Greyson hissed. Power oozed from his voice as he walked around to the driver's side of the car. "And I'll prove that when I kill you with my bare hands. One fucking chance or you die."
He yanked the door open and sat in the car, immediately looking at Indianna, who had tears streaming down her face. Her hands were clenched together, shaking.
"G-Greyson... How is that possible?" she whimpered. "It's the same... He's... Oh my—"
"You're safe, sugar."
Greyson took Indianna's hand as he started the car and sped away from the restaurant as fast as he could.
His grip was tense, and he gritted his teeth as he stared at the road ahead of him.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise."